William C. deMille

William Churchill DeMille (July 25, 1878 – March 5, 1955) was an American screenwriter and film director from the silent film era through the early 1930s.[1] He was also a noted playwright prior to moving into film. Once he was established in film he specialized in adapting Broadway plays into silent films.[2]

William was the elder brother of Cecil B. DeMille, who altered the capitalization of his last name when he went to Hollywood, claiming that it fit better on marquees. (William continued to be known as "de Mille",[3] and his daughter Agnes also chose "de Mille".) William received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University followed by graduate studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, at schools in Germany, and a second stint at Columbia studying under Brander Matthews.

De Mille directing a scene using a "Magna Vox" voice amplification device

In 1903 he married Anna Angela George, the daughter of notable economist Henry George. Anna and William had two children, Agnes de Mille – named after a younger sister who died in childhood – who became a noted choreographer and Peggy George, who became an actress.

Professionally, their life was stable. In 1905 he became successful Broadway playwright,[4][5] following its development in 1904.[6]

William had nine plays he wrote or co-wrote – one of them with Cecil – produced on Broadway between 1905 and 1913, and another two productions mounted in 1929 and 1936,[7] the latter of which he produced and directed as well.[8]

At about this time, he met Lorna Moon, an established New York author from Scotland, who also wrote sophisticated Hollywood comedies.[citation needed]

In 1998, Richard de Mille, who had grown up in Cecil's household, revealed in the memoir My Secret Mother, Lorna Moon that William C. deMille was his father and screenwriter Moon his biological mother. Richard had been adopted by Cecil B. and Constance DeMille to avoid a family scandal.[citation needed]